Finally Socks

Finally, finally, finally, I have got around to knitting socks.

I have seen sock projects everywhere (and Ravelry doesn't help really).  I have read that there is nothing like a hand knit sock for comfort, for durability, for fit, for feel but have never felt the need to turn my hand to this item of clothing.

To be honest, the patterns looked too complicated and beyond my technical ability, (I still think they are!).  I also don't know whether I will like hand knit socks but like I tell my kids, "you will never know if you don't try!"

Anyway, I made a promise at the beginning of this year that I would learn some new techniques in 2012, and in one fell swoop I am managing to tick two of the list - i.e learning how to knit in the round on double pointed needles and learning how to knit socks - Result.

I found the perfect pattern on Ravelry, The Universal Toe Up Sock Formula, which led me to use The Sock Pattern Generator, which did all the Maths for me - all the better!!! I did of course have to do a swatch to get gauge (I think this was my first swatch - I'm feeling more like a professional knitter everyday 😊)!

I counted 9 stitches to an inch, plugged it into the Sock Pattern Generator, got the require cast on stitches and away I went. It was going good, I got to halfway up my foot, when I decided to try it on - DISASTER, way too big - oh my days!! Actually it would have been alright if I had been Big Foot but, Big Foot, I certainly ain't!!

So I had to re-swatch and recount - stupid me, counted wrong - 8 stitches to an inch (counted about 3 times just to make sure - definitely 8 stitches. I casted on again the required number of stitches, as per the Sock Pattern Generator and also this time I used Judy's Magic Cast On, couldn't be bothered with the crocheted provisional cast on, (plus the scrap yarn got tangled up in the original sock stitches and took forever to take out - that's another story!!!)

Anyway, second time around I am very happy and quite enjoying the process. This is where I got to so far:




Now I do hope that I don't get second sock syndrome and that I do actually wear these socks when they are done but if not, at least I can say that I have knitted socks and tick that off my To Do List.

For more work in progresses, check out Tami's Amis blog.

Until later......

- Cheerio

Plane Knitting

Well it's true, you can take knitting needles on a plane (as long as they are wooden/bamboo ones).  So the lady at the Stitch and Craft Show that sold me the 2.25mm bamboo circular needles - you're definitely correct and sorry for my slight cynicism on that!!

Any way just to take you on my journey to this point.

So I bought these needles as a test to see if I could get take them on board.  They were pretty cheap at £2.99, so I gathered if airport security confiscated them, it would be no great loss.  I planned on starting a new project (first ever socks) on the plane as well, so I wouldn't lose something I was already working on or, have to take the stitches off the needles, if they were confiscated.  (Thought about bringing a self addressed envelope as everyone said, but that is what it stayed as "a thought"!!)

So off I went - flight from London  to New York - went through Heathrow security with them in my hand luggage and no one batted an eyelid.  I didn't even try to hide them (I know what these security people are like, I've had them questioning me and searching through my baggage before because, I was carrying an umbrella - I think they thought it was a disguised gun!).  So sat down on the plane took out the needles and began to cast on.  I was a bit wary though because I thought, any minute now the air stewardess would swoop down on me and remove them forthwith but apart from a quick glance, to see what I was doing...nada.

So for the 6+ hour flight I knitted mostly on (through Movies - The Kings Speech and Megamind (good film - I've got kids) but occasionally off (lunch, snack and a quick dose).  Now I have to tell you that this was the first time that I  have ever knitted with bamboo needles, knitted in the round and also tried to do socks and I have to say that all three were a disaster.  I decided about an hour into the flight that I didn't like working with the bamboo needles, (didn't like the feel), the circular wire was also a bit too long and stretched the stitches and I had no idea what I was doing with the socks/pattern, so I frogged it, gave up working in the round and decided to restart just ribbing back and forth on the two needles.  Had done quite a bit when we reached New York but on arrival at the Hotel, I frogged it again (I really needed to work in the round or with 3 dpk). - ridiculous!!

We then had to do an internal flight from New York to Chicago and again carried the needles on in my hand luggage, sailed through security and took them out again on the plane (by this time, I decided to make a small childs beret in the round - so commenced ribbing - this felt better - more stitches - less stretch!)

And then, flight back to London from Chicago, again in hand luggage, through security and on to plane -  carried on knitting beret rim but not a lot, as it was an overnight flight and they turned off the lights!

Am home now and I am going to frog this project again - why, because I have no-one to give this beret to - too small and I really don't like the bamboo needles!!

Next time I get on a flight (soonish), I will have a proper project to work on and so can ignore the feel of the needles!!  I have to say though that it does make the hours fly by - now how about letting us blog on the plane too eh...???